Schools project is top of the class

Across four regions of Colombia, four P3 projects are helping build and operate more than 60 schools.

Client
International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Expertise
Technical advisory services

Opportunity

Colombia has made a major commitment to its educational infrastructure, implementing four public-private partnerships (P3) for the construction and operation of more than 60 schools.

Solution

Mott MacDonald is providing private finance expertise, technical advice, and procurement support across four P3 transactions. The International Finance Corporation, our client, expects that the success of this project will help to inspire further P3 activity across Colombia and Latin America.

The team performed preliminary investigations at 130 potential sites to determine which ones were most suitable for a P3 development in terms of construction, site location, pupil demand, and risk. Based on these findings and our experience with international funding, the list was refined to those sites which were viable and most likely to achieve P3 backing.

Our involvement with educational P3 projects in the UK and internationally, along with P3s in general, has allowed us to guide stakeholders through this process, by identifying pitfalls and those aspects (design, contract, construction) that need to be considered at the start of a project to help with the financing and operation post build.

Outcome

The new schools will address the shortage of pupil places by providing additional classrooms with a working and learning environment that is conducive to pupil and staff development. The increased facilities will enable a transition to a single-shift school day and the provision of additional curriculum actives above the basics (reading, writing, and arithmetic).

This is a ground-breaking transaction for Colombia and the wider region, not only due to its scope but also its scale and anticipated social impact. Education infrastructure is a top priority for Colombia, and these pathfinder transactions can lead to improved educational outcomes across the country.